Why Chasing Highs Will Never Make You Happy (and What Actually Will)

What if the thrill you’ve been chasing isn’t the point?
What if the real game is learning how to stay above a 6 or 7 when life’s highs and lows inevitably fade?

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on some wisdom from John Mellencamp and Mark Manson.

“Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.”
Manson’s reminder that no matter how high or low life takes us, we eventually normalize back to a 6 or 7.

That promotion, that win, that big night out—it spikes us to a 10.

The heartbreak, the loss, the failure—it drops us to a 2.

But sooner or later, we land back in the middle.

For me, this perspective has been transformative—especially as I come up on one year without alcohol.

I realized that alcohol was just robbing from tomorrow’s happiness… pushing me artificially to a 9 or 10, only to wake up at a 3.

The real secret? Find healthy addictions:

Time with my wife, kids, family & friends
Walks with my dog
Shooting hoops
Reading and podcasts
Music that lifts the soul
Helping others win

Those things don’t just spike me—they sustain me. They keep me flying above that 6 or 7 every single day.

Because the older you get, the more you realize: the thrill of the chase doesn’t hit the same.

But the joy of impact, family, friendship, and growth? That’s the fuel that lasts.

What’s your “healthy addiction” that keeps you above a 6 or 7?